How do you download this? it says Free to Play

[Jamie]

is something broken on my end? I thought this game was free to play? it says it on the store page but when u click it theres nothing but GIMME MONEY..

[DaDonik[GER]]

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3587981

[space]

early access is paid

f2p after early access

[Jamie]

oh ok

[jpdelmundo]

That's the abuse disguised as early access. Label it as free to play for free marketing through word of mouth. When people checks the store page, it's actually buy to play.

Early access runs for a minimum of 6 months, basically gating the game and allow access only if you pay. They get free advertising campaign for at least 6 months. Within those 6 months, GGG benefits from free advertisement such as word of mouth, influencer gameplay videos, gullible people would check out the store page, pay to play the game for fear of missing out (fomo), all the while the game is advertised as free to play.

It's basically exploiting early access and "free to play". Watch how other publishers abuse it in upcoming games unless Steam change their policy.

[Zephos]

ftr its only 30$ for access its defiantly worth it

[Jamie]

Originally posted by Zephos:

ftr its only 30$ for access its defiantly worth it

yea sorry i dont pay for free to play games

[Valdaran]

Originally posted by Jamie:

Originally posted by Zephos:

ftr its only 30$ for access its defiantly worth it

yea sorry i dont pay for free to play games

That's a bad take, because you probably want to buy stash space regardless. And if you buy a key for $30, you also get 300 points, which you can use to buy stash space.

Especially because you also get more content for 30 Dollars/Euros than a game full price game like D4 gives you for 60+.

[Grimzilla]

Originally posted by Jamie:

Originally posted by Zephos:

ftr its only 30$ for access its defiantly worth it

yea sorry i dont pay for free to play games

Then don't. Happy to NOT have you in early access.

[AFC_HIGHBURY]

Originally posted by Jamie:

Originally posted by Zephos:

ftr its only 30$ for access its defiantly worth it

yea sorry i dont pay for free to play games

Nobody's forcing you, do it or wait. We'll all be having fun.

[Instigator]

Originally posted by jpdelmundo:

That's the abuse disguised as early access. Label it as free to play for free marketing through word of mouth. When people checks the store page, it's actually buy to play.

Early access runs for a minimum of 6 months, basically gating the game and allow access only if you pay. They get free advertising campaign for at least 6 months. Within those 6 months, GGG benefits from free advertisement such as word of mouth, influencer gameplay videos, gullible people would check out the store page, pay to play the game for fear of missing out (fomo), all the while the game is advertised as free to play.

It's basically exploiting early access and "free to play". Watch how other publishers abuse it in upcoming games unless Steam change their policy.

F2P cuts both ways. A lot of people won't play F2P games *because* they assume it's MTX pushing trash (PoE is not this, to be clear).

Others will be excited for F2P then turned off by the EA price tag, thus hurting more sales.

This isn't a genius marketing move or something. It's just a way for them to bring in a little money for all the work they've put into their game while still being clear that they intend to make it F2P at a later, relatively soon, date.

If they instead sold it now, then made it F2P in six months, all while having planned to make it F2P, people would absolutely be up in arms.

[MeatBag]

grown man btw

[Denitrifi]

"HI JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE THAT I AM NOT PAYING FOR A FREE TO PLAY GAME. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE ME!!"

-you, probably

[Pencillus Sedatus]

Originally posted by space:

early access is paid

f2p after early access

the real release date is paid, everyone else is delay release without known release date. 6month to 12 months or more.

[jpdelmundo]

The first game was so popular and this new game look so good that even if it's buy to play, people will still pay for it, but "oh you get points if you pay and you get stash tabs because you will need it" before the game even comes out are gamers who white knights this sneaky abuse of early access and "free to play" label and is the reason why these companies get away with these scummy practices.

Stash tabs...points...smfh

[Salmon Snake]

Its how steam works. Theres nothing GGG can do. Its going to be a f2p game which they have to categorize but the EA is paid access. Its just how steam works.